Water tap

ABSTRACT

A tap has two mirror symmetrically shaped shell sections connected to each other to form an internal cavity having only inlet, outlet and two lateral openings. A fluid supply member having two ducts, which communicate with said cavity, seals the inlet cavity. Means, portions of which have cross sections smaller than said lateral openings, pass through the latter and regulate the quantity of fuel which may flow from said ducts into the cavity prior to being discharged through said outlet opening.

[ Oct. 30, 1973 United States Patent [1 1 Sauret-Ponsa 3,194,270 7/1965Viessmann...................... 251/367 X WATER TAP [76] Inventor:Carlos Sauret-Ponsa, 7 & 9, Calle FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSPelayo, Barcelona, Spain 1922366 Aug. 7, 1972 "004,059

1/1958 Germany............................ 251/367 3/1952 137/606 [22]Filed:

Primary Examiner-Robert G. Nilson Attorney-Michael S. Striker 21 Appl.No.: 278,649

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 524, Jan. 5,1970, Pat. No.

[57] ABSTRACT A tap has two mirror symmetrically shaped shell sectionsconnected to each other to form an internal cavity having only inlet,outlet and two lateral openings. A fluid supply member having two ducts,which communicate with said cavity, seals the inlet cavity.

Means, portions of which have cross sections smaller than said lateralopenings, pass through the latter and References Cited- UNITED STATESPATENTS regulate the quantity of fuel which may flow from said ductsinto the cavity prior to being discharged through said outlet opening.

137/606 X 137/606 137/606 X 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1,740,156 Crane1,747,640 2/1930 Morris 1,916,553 7/1933 Bersted............

WATER TAP CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is adivisional application of the copending application Ser. No. 524 filedJan. 5, l970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,733.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Taps 'for wash basins and baths have beenmanufactured in various form. Typically, such a tap consists of atubular member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening throughwhich the water passes and whose rate of flow may be regulated. Anadjustable valve device is interposed in the fluid flow path to open orclose the tap. Many taps are manufactured in cast bronze or brassrequiring special molds, and once the casting has been made, it must bemachined to the final dimensions and shape according to the type of tapthat is to be manufactured. Following this, they must be well polishedprior to being nickel-plated or chromium-plated and finally joined tothe remaining valve assembly and made ready to function as a tap. It isobvious that the manufacture of such taps is most complicated and itrequires multiple operationsbefore the tap may be considered finished,ready to be offered for sale to the public.

Furthermore, manufacturing taps in accordance with traditional methodshas had a further disadvantage in that it has resulted in more metalbeing wasted than necessary. The reason for this is that castings haveirregularities in their surfaces that must afterwards be smoothed out bymechanical operations. For this reason, they are made with dimensionsgreater that those strictly required so that there would be no danger ofrendering them unsusable because of their size after the subsequentmachining referred to above, so that they will be finished to have thecorrect size and possess a pleasing exterior appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, is an object of the presentinvention to provide a tap forfluids which does not possess thedisadvantages known in similar prior-art taps.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a tap underdiscussion which is simple in construction and economical-tomanufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water tapwhich minimizes the amount of metal wasted during manufacture of thetaps.

According to the present invention, the tap comprises two mirrorsymmetrically shaped shell sections connected to each other to form aninternal cavity which is completely closed with the exception of aninlet and an outlet and a lateral opening inat least one of saidsections. Fluid inlet means are provided which extend through said'inletopening into said cavity. A valve assembly is provided which comprises aplurality of components each having over a major portion of its length across section smaller than that of said lateral opening, extending withsaid major portion thereof into said cavity and connected to said fluidinlet means for regulating fluid to be delivered through said outletopening.

In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment, said shell sectionsare made from stamped stainless steel plates which are approximately 1millimeter thick. Also, a lateral opening is provided in each shellsection. Said fluid inlet means comprises a member provided with twoducts, and means for sealingly connecting said fluid inlet means to saidshell sections so as to close said inlet means are provided, each ofsaid ducts being accessible externally of and communicating with saidcavity.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic fortheinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its methodsof operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof,will be best understood fromthe following description of specificembodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectionof a water tap in accordance with the present invention, showing themajor portions in an exploded manner; and

FIGS. 24 are fragmentary views of the tap as shown in FIG. 1 duringvarious stages of construction, the tap being shown assembled in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, the tubularbody of the tap comprises of two mirror-symmetrically shapedprefabricated, stamped shell sections 1 and 2. The shell sections arepreferably made from stainless steel 1 millimeter thick. However, theshell sections may be made from other material having a differentthickness. When the shell sections are made from stainless steel plate,they can be fixed to one another by arc-welding them together at theiredges. A joining line designated by the reference numeral 3-defines alongitudinal plane of symmetry of the tap. The two sections togetherform a cavity 2a which is totaly sealed except as described below.

The connected sections have a rear portion 4 which is provided with arecessed zone 5, the latter being provided with a wide central orificeor inlet opening 6. To each side of the joining line-3, the shells l and2. are provided with flat lateral portions -7 and 9. Widediameterorifices or a lateral openings '8 and 10 are provided in the lateralportions 7 and 9, respectively. The 7 tap is provided with an orificeor' outlet opening 12 which acts as the mouth through which water orlike may flow at the front portion 11 of the tap.

Once the sections 1 and 2 are welded together at the line 3 and theopenings 6, 8 and 10 are formed, an outer part 15 of a fluid supplymeans or fluid supply member is inserted through the inlet opening 6until its flange 14 is positioned inside the recessed zone 5, to be thensealingly connected by welding with silver or bronze solder 18. In thiscondition, an end portion 13 of the part extends through the inletopening 6 into the internal cavity 2a, while the major portion of theouter part 15 remains exteriorly of the cavity. The outer part 15 isprovided with two substantially parallel ducts l6 and 17 whose outer.ends are accessible exteriorly of the internal cavity 2a while theirinner ends communicate with the latter. The portion of outer part 15extending outside the cavity 2a when the tap is assembled is adapted forthe purpose of fixing the tap in a wall or wash basin, as is the usualpractice with cast-metal taps, and the ducts 16 and 17 are connected tohot and cold water fittings by soldering the latter and the outer partto one another.

An inner part 19 of the fluid supply member has two branching portions23 and 27 which diverge from one another at an angle of 90. Each of thebranching portions is directed toward a respective one of the lateralopenings 8 and 10. The inner part 19 has two parallel ducts 20 and 21and two diverging ducts 26 and 30. The ducts 26 and 30 open towards thelateral openings 8 and respectively. The ducts 20 and 2] communicatewith the respective ducts l6 and 17 of the outer part when the annularflange 22 of the inner part 19 is joined to the end portion 13 of theouter part, either by threading or welding.

The branching portions are externally threaded and are provided at theirfree ends with annular projections 25 and 29 which surround the openends of the ducts 26, 30 respectively. Each annular projection serves asa valve seat for an on-off (open-close) device, as to be describedhereafter.

Once the various parts have been welded and fixed into place, the hollowcylindrical valve assembly 34 is inserted through-orifice 8. The valveassembly 34 is provided with a threaded portion at one end and isadapted to be screwingly engaged with threaded portion 23. The valveassembly 34 has, at its upper end 32, a flange 23, which, when the valvehas been meshed with the threaded portion 23, remains supported on theexterior wall of the hollow body of the tap, about the exteriorperipheral lateral portion 7 of the lateral opening 8, and is thenwelded onto this lateral portion to prevent leakages of water. Anopen-close (on-off) device is threadingly inserted inside the valveassembly 34, as is to be described, and orifices 34' are provided in itslateral facing so that the water which flows from the duct 16 to duct 26passes through the orifices 34' to the interior of the body or internalcavity 2a of the tap and leaves by the outlet opening 12 at its frontportion 11. Similarly, a hollow cylindrical valve assembly 38 isprovided which cooperates with threaded portion 27. The valve assembly38 is similar to the aforementioned valve assembly 34 and also has atits end 36 a flange 37 which is supported by and soldered onto thelateral postion 9. The valve assembly 38 is similarly provided withorifices 38' which connect the interior of the valve assembly with theinternal cavity 2a of the tap.

Once the tap has been assembled in the manner described, the open-close(on-off) elements are fitted, i.e. they are screwingly meshed to theinteriorly threaded portions 39 of the valve assemblies 34, 38. Theelements are of the type used for valves not only of this but of othertypes used in plumbing work and are well known. The threaded portions 39on the interior faces of the hollow cylindrical valve assemblies 34 and38 maintain some of the open-close elements fixed relative to the valveseats 25, 29. The open-close (on-off) devices include sleeves 40 whichhave internal threads which engage with the screw threads of the stems41 for control of the valve. The stems are movable in axial directions,i.e. along the axes of the ducts 26, 30 and towards or away from theseats 25, 29 respectively. Each stem or spindle carries a valve member,e.g. a washer 43 or the like. Each washer 43 is movably mounted by meansof a ball and socket arrangement 42 for ensuring that the washer 43 isurged to its sealing position upon engagement with the valve seat 25,respectively 29. In

this manner, a perfect air and water tight seal is obtained whenever thespindle 46 is turned so as to bring the washer into engagement with therespective valve seat. Sealing means 44, 45 are provided about thespindle 46 for preventing leakages of water. A knob (not shown) isconnected to the spindle to facilitate the turning of the same.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types of awater tap differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in awater tap which is to be constructed from symmetrically shaped shellsections which are made from stamped stainless steel plates and whichare constructed by connecting to these shells valve and conduit means,it is not intended to be limited to'the details shown, since variousmodifications and structural changes may be made without departing inany way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analyzes, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitutute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptation should and is intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

1. A tap of an integrated construction, comprising a housing consistingof two interconnected mirror-symmetrically shaped shell sectionsdefining an internal cavity communicating with the surroundings by meansof an outlet opening, said housing being provided with an axial openingfor accommodation of fluid inlet means and at least one lateral openingfor accommodation of fluid flow control means; said fluid inlet meansextending through said axial opening into said cavity and comprising twoparts, the major portion of a first one of said parts being locatedexternally of said hous' ing for attachment to fluid supply pipes, theminor portion of said first part being inserted into said axial openingfor sealingly attaching said first part to said housing, the second oneof said parts being accommodated inside said cavity and attached to saidfirst part so as to communicate therewith, both of said parts beingprovided with passage means for separate conduction of a first and asecond fluid to be mixed in said cavity in an adjustable. ratio; saidfluid flow control means comprising cylindrical means fittinglyaccommodated in said lateral opening and sealingly attached to saidhousing and to said second part of said fluid inlet means, saidcylindrical means having a wall bounding an internal chamber andprovided with an opening communicating with said chamber and with saidcavity, and valve means accommodated in and sealingly attached to saidcylindrical means and cooperating with a valve seat provided on saidsecond part of said fluid inlet means for controlling the fluid flowfrom said fluid inlet means into said chamber and from there via saidopening into said cavity.

2. A tap as defined in claim 1, wherein said shell sections are madefrom stamped stainless steel sheet.

3. A tap as defined in claim 2, wherein said sheet is approximately 1mm. thick.

for securing positive seating of said valve member on said valve seat.

- 5. A tap as defined in claim 1, said'wall of said cylindrical meansbeing provided with additional openings connecting said chamber withsaid cavity, all of said openings being arranged so as to assureturbulent flow inside said cavity and thus thorough mixing of saidfluids.

1. A tap of an integrated construction, comprising a housing consistingof two interconnected mirror-symmetrically shaped shell sectionsdefining an internal cavity communicating with the surroundings by meansof an outlet opening, said housing being provided with an axial openingfor accommodation of fluid inlet means and at least one lateral openingfor accommodation of fluid flow control means; said fluid inlet meansextending through said axial opening into said cavity and comprising twoparts, the major portion of a first one of said parts being locatedexternally of said housing for attachment to fluid supply pipes, theminor portion of said first part being inserted into said axial openingfor sealingly attaching said first part to said housing, the second oneof said parts being accommodated inside said cavity and attached to saidfirst part so as to communicate therewith, both of said parts beingprovided with passage means for separate conduction of a first and asecond fluid to be mixed in said cavity in an adjustable ratio; saidfluid flow control means comprising cylindrical means fittinglyaccommodated in said lateral opening and sealingly attached to saidhousing and to said second part of said fluid inlet means, saidcylindrical means having a wall bounding an internal chamber andprovided with an opening communicating with said chamber and with saidcavity, and valve means accommodated in and sealingly attached to saidcylindrical means and cooperating with a valve seat provided on saidsecond part of said fluid inlet means for controlling the fluid flowfrom said fluid inlet means into said chamber and from there via saidopening into said cavity.
 2. A tap as defined in claim 1, wherein saidshell sections are made from stamped stainless steel sheet.
 3. A tap asdefined in claim 2, wherein said sheet is approximately 1 mm. thick. 4.A tap as defined in claim 1, said valve means comprising a sleevesealingly attached to said cylindrical means and accommodating a spindlemounted for rotation and simultaneous axial movement in said sleeve, avalve member for closing and adjustably opening said passage means independence upon the axial displacement of said spindle, and a sealingmember consisting of a sealing ring and a sealing cap, said valve memberbeing attached to said spindle by means of a ball joint for securingpositive seating of said valve member on said valve seat.
 5. A tap asdefined in claim 1, said wall of said cylindrical means being providedwith additional openings connecting said chamber with said cavity, allof said openings being arranged so as to assure turbulent flow insidesaid cavity and thus thorough mixing of said fluids.